Attachment plug and receptacle



NOV. 18, 1930. T 4 w GOODRlDGE 1,782,297

ATTACHMENT PLUG AND RECEP'I'ACLE Filed March 16, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR GILBERT N Goon/w 0615 ATTORNEYS NOV. 18, 1930. w, GOODRlDGE1,782,297

ATTACHMENT PLUG AND RECEPTACLE I Filed March 16, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTQR G/LBERT H4 GOODlP/DGE ATTORNEY-S Patented Nov. 18 1930 UNI-TEDSTATES GILBERT W. GOODR IDGE, OF FAIRFIELD, CONNEC'IICU'I ASSIGNOR .TOTHE BRYANT ELECTRIG COl\TP-.NY, 013 BRIDGEPORT,

CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CON- ATTACHMENT PLUG AND RECEPTAGLEApplication filed March 16,11925. Serial No. 16,008. I

My invention relates to an attachment plug and a receptacle therefor.The object of my invention is to provide a plug and a receptacletherefor, both of simple and rugged'construction, the conductors ofwhich I ing base of the receptacle I I Fig.; -5, is avcentral sectionthrough the plug alone; I I

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6 6,2Fig.

7, with the parts assembled and I Fig. 7 is an exploded view; of theplug ele- ,-,ments. 7 I I My invention is illustrated in a duplexreceptacle of the flush type, but it will be I understood that many ofthe features of novelty may be embodied in single receptaan cles ormultiple receptacles affording more than twooutlets, It is also to beunderstood that theinvention is applicable to receptacles other thanvtheflush type shown, although certain features of improvement areparinstallations of this type. 1 I I The receptacle body is illustratedas a onepiece' insulating'block channeled on; its

opposite sides at 16 and 17 (Fig. 1) toac- 40. commodate lead wires bywhich connection is made'to thebindingterminals 18 and 19 I seatedrespectively on the depressed ledges 20 and 21' to which the channelsopen. The

wire terminals are held in position-on the ledges by screwbolts 22 and23 (Fig-m4) which pass throughthe insulating base, from below andelectrically connect theqrespective wire terminals with the straps 2land25 let into the, lower faceof the base. Fora duplex receptacle ofthepresent type, each ticularlyidesirable in and applicable only to Iportlombutof the full widthof the chaIn- 9 throughout its depth.

strap. is provided with a an-pf receptacle contacts 26 and 27, which maybe integral therewith or secured thereto in any appropriate fashion, asby rivets 28. I Thestrap 25 extends substantially the length of the'baseand inasmuch as the contacts 27 are at op- 'posite ends of the strap,'itis desirable to support the latter by screws 29 (Figs.2 and 3) adjacentits opposite ends as well as by the screw bolt23 (Fig. 4).

To receive and house the several contacts 26 and 27 of a duplexreceptacle of the character shown, the base 15 is appropriatelyapertured from below to format its opposite ends contact chambers 30 forthecontacts 27,

and intermediate chambers 31for the contacts '26. The two chambers 31are adjacent but completely separated by the intervening diaphragm 32 ofthe base, while between each pair of chambers 30 and 31 on oppositePATIENT-OFFICE a sides ofithe diaphragm 32 the base is re- 7 cessedfrom; its upper face to afford a .well

33 for theaccommodation of the entering end of a cooperating attachmentplug. The latter carries blades for engagement with the contacts 26 and27 of opposite polarity Topermit the plug blades to enter the chemhers30 and 31, a slot 34 opens through the her in its lower portion. Itisobvious, how= ever, that if preferred, the width of the up per portionof the slot 35 may be maintained The-contacts 26 and which lie'onopposite'sides ofthe well 33.

'27 are thus housedintheir respective cham bersf3Qand 31, and accessto'the same can behadonly through theslots34 and 35, is thus practicallyimpossible to touch'the contacts by insertingthe finger into. thereceptacle.

is made impossible. I a

The receptacle maybe supported in a standard outlet box-(not shown) byV-shaped Accidental injury in this fashion end brackets 36 and 37securedat opposite longitudinal mid-plane-of the plate. The de-.

ends of the block and having at the apices blades into engagementwith-the. receptacle Contacts. Eachof these openings is closed. by doorcomprising a pair of inwardly opening leaves 42 and 43, the meetingedges of which extend in adirection parallelto the tails of. the doorconstruction and mounting form no portionjjof my invention. "It sufficesto point out that on three sides each leaf is sheared to preciseconformity with the mar- 'ginsof the opening 41 in the face plate. On

its fourth side, viz. the margin adjacent that of the cooperating leaf,an inwardly offset flangeg44 is provided. "The ends of this flangeextend beyond the oppositeends of the leaf and are bent towardeachotherand carried beyondthe opposite margins of the leaf .to form hinge arms45 and 46. The portions of the hinge arms adjacentthe fiange' 44, and

; extending beyond the end margins ofthe door openlng 41, abutagainstithe inner face,

' of the plate and thus fornrstops' limiting the outward movement of theleaves. The free ends of thehinge arms '45 and 46 are pierced to receivea longitudinally extend- 'ing hinge pin 47 common to the correspondlngleaves of each door (see "Fig. 2) Between the arms and 46 a coil spring48 isarranged onf-the hinge pin 47, one end of the springbeingextendedto bear against the face plate, "and its opposite endbearing against the leaf and tending constantly to press the latter i toclosedposition. 'Tli'e'faceplate is secured to-the offset lugs 38 of thebracketsiifiaand 1 537 by means or; the usual screws49. 7

' Qooperating with the receptacle structure described is theattachmentplug shown 111 sec- ,tionfand i'nfdetail in Figs; 5, 6 and 7.The

plug comprises a pair of complementary insulating-blocks'50 and 51 ofprecisely identical'shape andtherefore n'odu'ced from a singledie. Theblocks are recessed intlieir juxtaposed faces to-form' 3,;W V11111gchamber scan the head of the plug, to which open lateral cable entrypassages 53.

. formed, both passages" 53 are closed by knock out diaphragms: 54,either orboth ofjwhich may be subsequently"removeda to admit the wirestothe chamber 52. Extendingfromthe I chamber 52 arespaced'channels'55 and56 for theaccommodation ofj the 'flat contact blades 57 and 58. At oneend the blades are ofiset to form binding lugs-59. which pro ect intoand overliethe floor-of the chamber 52;

Shallowwells 60-accommodate the shanks of the binding screws 61.Becesses 62 intermediate the ends of the channels 55 and 56 accommodatethe bosses 63 punched from the contact blades and serving to hold thelatter against displacement. Registering holes 64 and 65 formed in thebarrier ribs 66 which cooperate to separate the channels 55 and 56,accommodate the screw bolts 67 by which the blocks 50 and 51 are united.

' :Each blade 57, 58, is shouldered at 68 and the contactengaging endthereof beyond the shoulder is of greater width than the shank extendingto the blnding terminals. To expose the slde margins of the blades forengagement with the receptacle contacts, the 1 opposite sides of theentering end of the plug body are cut away at 69, thus intersecting thechannels 5556 at the entering end of the plug, while still housing andmechamcally supporting the ,bladesat their inner n'iargins.

{The shouldering of the insulating body of the plug thus forms a nose 70 at 1ts entering endfrom which laterally project the edges of theblades beyond their shoulders 68. The ends of the channels 55 and 56 areclosed at 71, and the outer 'faces 72 of the nose are rounded. Theentering end or nose of the plug is thus closed and shaped to facilitateits passage through the aperture-41 of the cover plate and its entryinto the well 33. of the receptacle body. Theinouth 73 of the Well 33and the slots 34 are beveled to guide the entering end of the plug andits blades into proper position in the receptacle.

The operation of the device is obvious. Upon insertion of a plug, itsnose 70 engages the leaves 42, 43 of one of the cover. plate doors andforces the latter inward and apart against the action of theirsprings48. *Sufficient clearance for the accommodation of the door leaves ontheir inward swing is afforded by the spacing of the receptacle body 15from the face plate by the brackets 37. As the plug isfurther insertedthe nose'enters the well 33 in the receptacle body and the plug bladeso?and 58 enter the slots 34 in the top of contact chambers 30 and 31. Asthe plug is pushed home the exposed ends and side margins of the bladespass downward into the contact chambers and each is engaged on itsopposite faces by the brushes of the receptacle contacts 26 and 27. Inthisposition the blades extend laterally from the'nose 70 of the plugthroughthe slots 35 in thesides of the receptacle chambers. Then theplug is withdrawn from the receptacle, arcing between the blades andthereceptacle cont-acts is minimized by the" constricted blade passages 34in the top of the contact chamber, through which the blade ends exit. 7

An important technical advantage results from the location of thecontacts of strap 25 atopposite ends of the receptacle. As is well knowntheoutlet box'in which a receptacle of the'presenttype'is mounted bybrackets two lie

36-37, is grounded in accordance with the underwriters requirements. Ifone of the incoming feed wires is also grounded and the letter beconnected to the terminal. 19, and

thus to strap through screw 23, the contacts 27 at opposite ends of thereceptacle adjacent the straps 3637 will have the same polarity as thelatter. There will be no tendency therefore for an arc to form betweenthese contacts and thebracketswhen the plug is withdrawn from thereceptacle. The connection of the grounded'side of the line to terminal'19 may be indicated by imparting thereto a distinctive color, e. g.white.

The receptacle body is extremely simple to manufacture,economical ofmaterial, compact in arrangement of contacts, and at the same timeprovides safe housing and support for the latter as well as reducingdanger of arcing on withdrawal of the plug. 'It will be noted that a.duplex ,rec'eptacles'tructure is afforded within the area ofa'receptacle fitting adapted for accommodation inan outlet box of thesize commonly used for single "outlet fittings.

the top walls of said chambers and side Walls thereof facing the wellbeing apertured to accommodate entering plug blades.

2. A' plug receptacle comprising an.in-

sulating body recessed from one face to afford a plug receiving well,and from another faceto afford contact chambers on opposite sides of thewell, the'end wall of said chambers and the side walls thereof facingthe well being apertured to accommodate entering plug blades. I M

' 3. A plug receptacle comprising an insulating body recessed to afiordapair of.

plug receiving wells, and a pair of contact chambers at opposite'sidesof'each well and laterally opening thereto, together with conductingstraps of opposite polarity, each having a pair of associated contactsarranged respectively in the chambers opening to the respective wells. 7

LA plug receptacle comprising an 1Il sulating body recessed to afford apair of plug receiving wells, and av pair of contact. chambers atopposite sides of each well and laterally opening thereto, together witha pair of conductor straps of opposite polarity, each having anassociated pair of receptacle 7 contacts, the contacts of onepolaritybeing arranged in chambers'intermediate the wells.

5. An attachment plug comprising au in sulating body of .reduceddiameterat its entering end, and plugflblades the adjacent edges of which mkhoud within said end,

while their opposite edges 1 project laterally to exposedpos'ition atopposite sides thereof. GiAn'attachment plug comprising an insulatingbody recessed to form a wiring chamber, parallel channels extendingtherefrom to the opposite endofthe plugand contact blades in'saidchannels, said channels opening through oppositel'sides of the enteringend of theplug tolexposei for engagement the edges of the bladeslying-in said channels and extending beyond the insulating t 7. Anfattac'hment plug comprising comd pleinentary blocks ofins'ulatingmaterial ro-" cessed on their adjacent facesto. afi'ord parallel blade,receiving channels, said blocks being shouldered to forma nose at theentering end of the plug, theoppos ite sides of which 1 Doselongitudinally intersect the channels to expose the side margins ofblades lying in said channels.

' 8. An attachment plug comprising .an insulating'bodyclosed at itsentering end, but recessedto'forininterior spaced channels extendinginto said end and opening laterally to opposite sides thereof,togetherwith blades arranged in said channels and having side and bottom edgesprojecting laterally beyond the sides of theplug end forengagement withcooperating receptacle contacts. 9. An attachment plug comprising likecomplementary blocks, recessed on their meeting faces to form at one endan inclosed wiring chamber, and spaced channels leading therefrom to thenoselof the plug, contact blades confined in said channels and carryingbindingterminals at one end located within thev wiring chamber, saidblocks being laterally shouldered to expose a portion of the end and oneside edge of each of said blades for contact at the noseof the plug.

10. An attachment plug receptacle having contact chambers'arranged onopposite sides of a well, the top walls and the side walls of saidchambers facing'the wellbeing slotted V to accommodate the blades of acooperating plug, together witha plug havingan insulating body, the endof which is ofreduced dimensions to enter said well, and blades carriedby'said plug and projecting from opposite sides of said reduced end topass I through the slots of the contact chambers of the receptacle. oninsertion of the plug. 'intoth'e receptacle.

11. In a multiple receptacle, an insulating body, supporting bracketsadapted forconnection to a groundedsupport, contacts'adj acentthebrackets, terminal means for said contacts, and means indicating theproper connection of said terminal means to the ground side of theIfeedcircuit,'together with contacts of opposite polarity arranged on theinsulating body at points more remotely spaced: from said supportingbrackets than said contacts of ground polarity.

12.18. plug receptacle recessed from its face to afford aplug-receivingwell with contact. chambers at the sides of; the well andopening thereto, contacts arrangedin said chambers for cooperation withjack blades carriedgby the plug .at its entering end, the

top Walls of the contact chambers being slotted in registerwith thecontacts to permit the entry of the jack blades into the chambers :andinto ,engagement'with the re ceptacle contacts therein.

v 13. A plug,receptaclerecessed ,from its face to afford aplug-receiving .Well with contact chambers atcthe sides of thewell andopening,- thereto, contacts arranged in said chambers forcooperationwith jack blades carried-by the. plug at its entering end,the top. Walls of the contact chambers being slotted in register withthe contacts to permit the entry of the jack blades into the chambersand into engagement with the receptacle contacts therein, the side Wallsof saidchambers a facing the Well being apertured to accommodate theportion of the blade. extending; be-

tween the entering, end of the plug andthe receptacle contact.

' GILBERT W. eoonn nen. 1

I In testimony whereof I have signed my i name to this specification.-

